Med Term Ch 11
Terms
undefined, object
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- -acusis
- hearing condition
- acous/o, audi/o
- hearing
- acoustic neuroma
- benign tumor on the auditory nerve (8th cranial nerve) that causes vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss
- aer/o
- air or gas
- aerotitis media
- inflammation of the middle ear from changes in atmospheric pressure; often occurs with frequent air travel
- antibiotic
- a drug that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms; used to treat diseases caused by bacteria (eg. otitis media)
- antihistamine
- a drug that blocks the effects of histamine
- antiinflammatory
- a drug that reduces inflammation
- audiogram
- record of hearing measurement
- audiologist
- health professional who specializes in the study of hearing impairments
- audiometer
- instrument to measure hearing
- audiometry
- process of measuring hearing
- auditory acuity testing
- physical assessment of hearing; useful in differentiating between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
- auditory prosthesis
- any internal or external device that improves or substitutes for natural hearing
- aur/i, ot/o
- ear
- cerumen
- a waxy substance secreted by glands located throughout the external canal
- cerumen impaction
- excessive buildup of wax in the ear that often reduces hearing acuity, especially in elderly persons
- cerumin/o
- wax
- cochlea
- coiled tubular structure of the inner ear that contains the organ of Corti (cochlea = snail)
- cochlear implant
- an electronic device implanted in the cochlea that provides sound perception to patients with severe or profound sensorineural (nerve) hearing loss in both ears
- conductive hearing loss
- hearing impairment caused by interference with sound or vibratory energy in the external canal, middle ear, or ossicles
- deafness
- general term for partial or complete loss of hearing
- decongestant
- a drug that reduces congestion and swelling of membranes, such as those of the nose and eustachian tube in an infection
- ear lavage
- introduction of a medicated solution into the external canal, usually administered by drop (gt) or drops (gtt) in the affected ears
- endolymph
- fluid within the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear
- eustachian obstruction
- blockage of the eustachian tube, usually as a result of infection, as in otitis media
- eustachian tube / auditory tube
- tube connecting the middle ear to the pharynx (throat)
- external auditory meatus or canal
- external passage for sounds collected from the pinna to the tympanum
- external ear
- outer structures of the ear that collect sound
- hearing aid
- an external amplifying device designed to improve hearing by more effective collection of sound into the ear
- histamine
- a regulatory body substance released in allergic reactions, causing swelling and inflammation of tissues; seen in hay fever and urticaria (hives)
- incus
- anvil; middle of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear
- inner ear / labyrinth
- intricate, fluid-filled, intercommunicating bony and membranous passages that function in hearing by relaying sound waves to auditory nerve fibers on a path to the brain for interpretation; also sense body movement and position to maintain balance and equ
- labyrinthitis
- inflammation of the labyrinth (inner ear)
- malleus
- hammer; first of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear
- Meniere disease
- disorder of the inner ear resulting from an excessive buildup of endolymphatic fluid, causing episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, and hearing loss; one or both ears can be affected, and attacks vary in both frequency and intensity (named afte
- microsurgery
- surgery with the use of a microscope used on delicate tissue, such as the ear
- middle ear
- structures in the middle ear that vibrate sound from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear
- mixed hearing loss
- combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss
- myringitis / tympanitis
- inflammation of the eardrum
- myringotomy / tympanostomy
- incision into the eardrum, most often for insertion of a small polyethylene (PE) tube to keep the canal open and prevent fluid buildup, such as occurs in otitis media
- organ of Corti
- structure located in the cochlea; contains receptors (hair cells) that receive vibrations and generate nerve impulses for hearing
- otalgia / otodynia
- earache
- otitis externa
- inflammation of the external auditory meatus (canal)
- otits media
- inflammation of the middle ear
- otoplasty
- surgical repair of the external ear
- otorrhagia
- bleeding from the ear
- otorrhea
- purulent drainage from the ear
- otosclerosis
- hardening of the bony tissue in the ear
- otoscopy
- use of an otoscope to examine the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane
- oval window
- a membrane that covers the opening between the middle ear and inner ear
- perilymph
- fluid that fills the bony labyrinth of the inner ear
- pinna
- auricle (little ear); projected part of the external ear (pinna = feather)
- pneumatic otoscopy
- otoscopic observation of the tympanic membrane as air is released into the external auditory meatus; immobility indicates the presence of middle ear effusion (fluid buildup), as occurs as a result of otitis media
- presbyacusis / presbycusis
- hrstinh impsitmrny in old age
- saccule
- the smaller of two sacs within the membranous labyrinth of the vestibule in the inner ear (sacculus = small bag)
- salping/o
- eustachian tube or uterine tube
- semicircular canals
- three canals within the inner ear that contain specialized receptor cells that generate nerve impulses with body movement
- sensorineural hearing loss
- hearing impairment caused by lesions or dysfunction of the cochlea or auditory nerve
- stapedectomy
- excision of the stapes to correct otosclerosis
- stapes
- stirrup; last of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear
- tinnitus
- a jingling; a ringing or buzzing in the ear
- tuning fork
- a two-pronged, fork-like instrument that vibrates when struck; used to test hearing, especially bone conduction
- tympan/o, myring/o
- eardrum
- tympanic membrane (TM)
- eardrum; drum-like structure that receives sound collected in the external auditory canal and amplifies it through the middle ear
- tympanometry
- measurement of the compliance and mobility (conductibility) of the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the middle ear by monitoring the response to external airflow pressures
- tympanoplasty
- vein graft of a scarred tympanic membrane to improve sound conduction
- utricle
- the larger of two sacs within the membranous labyrinth of the vestibule in the inner ear (uter = leather bag)
- vertigo
- a turning round; dizziness
- vestibule
- middle part of the inner ear, in front of the semicircular canals and behind the cochlea, that contains the utricle and the saccule; functions to provide body balance and equilibrium